17 November 2004
IFEX MEMBERS CALL ATTENTION TO WIDESPREAD ATTACKS ON FREE EXPRESSION
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and International PEN are calling attention to attacks on freedom of expression around the world which are resulting in record levels of journalists killed and hundreds of others jailed for criticising authorities.
According to IFJ, 2004 is turning out to be one of the worst years on record for the killing of journalists and media staff. So far this year, 101 have died - nine more than last year and over 30 more than in 2002. IFJ includes drivers, translators and fixers in its tally.
The high death toll includes five journalists killed in Côte d'Ivoire, India, Nicaragua and the Philippines in the past two weeks.
In Côte d'Ivoire, Antoine Massé, a reporter for the pro-government newspaper "Le Courrier d'Abidjan," was killed on 7 November 2004 while covering clashes between protestors and French peacekeepers.
On 9 November, the body of Dilip Mohapatra, editor of the newspaper "Aji Kagoj," was found on the side of a highway in the eastern state of Orissa in India.
In Nicaragua, "La Prensa reporter María José Bravo was shot and killed when a fight broke out between rival party members at a vote counting centre during municipal elections in Juigalpa. Police say there is enough evidence to suggest that the shooting was not accidental.
In the Philippines, a gunman shot and killed "MindaNews" photographer Gene Boyd Lumawag on 12 November in the provincial capital of Jolo. Two days later, radio station manager Herson Hinolan died from stomach wounds after he was shot by assailants in Kalibo, Panay Island.
IFJ says the high number of journalists killed this year makes the issue of media safety an urgent one. The organisation will press this point at the upcoming annual meeting of the International News Safety Institute in Portugal on 17 November.
According to RSF's figures, which do not include media staff, the number of journalists killed this year surpasses the 2003 total. Forty-five have died so far, three more than last year. In contrast, RSF counted 25 journalists killed in 2002.
On 24 November, the organisation will mark its 15th annual Jailed Journalists Support Day to bring attention to imprisoned journalists around the world. This year's event is dedicated to French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who have been held hostage in Iraq for the past three months (see: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11839)
International PEN is also calling attention to jailed journalists and writers. It says more than 200 individuals are currently in prison. On a global scale, free expression violations remain widespread, PEN notes. From January to June 2004, the group counted more than 740 attacks on writers and journalists, ranging from long-term imprisonment, persistent harassment, threats, physical assaults and murders (see: http://www.pen.org/freedom/doiw_2004.htm).
Links:
Cases of Killed Journalists:
- Antoine Massé: http://www.cpj.org/news/2004/Ivory12nov04na.html
- Dilip Mohapatra:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2806&Language=EN
- Gene Boyd Lumawag, Herson Hinolan: http://www.cpj.org/news/2004/Phil15nov04na.html
- María José Bravo:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11820
- IFJ Annual Reports on Journalists Killed:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Issue=KILL&Language=EN
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org
- International PEN: http://www.internationalpen.org.uk
- International News Safety Institute: http://www.newssafety.com/stories/nx/agm.htm
(Image of Gene Boyd Lumawag Courtesy of RSF)
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